Lake Barnabee in Sullivan County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Barnabee lies within the bounds of Sullivan County, New York. The bank gives way to rolling bush. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. It is a small entry by Sullivan County standards. The nearest place of any size is Liberty, 2.5 miles away. South Fallsburg is 8.1 miles away, with Monticello at 8.7 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Lake Barnabee

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Species logged across Sullivan County include brown trout, brook trout, smallmouth bass, white sucker and rainbow trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. At Lake Barnabee light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 67°F in July and bottom out at 21°F in January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early April. On average, early April opens the water and mid December closes it again. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. On Lake Barnabee the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Swan Lake, 1.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat Lake Barnabee as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.